Meet Our Team

Our team is comprised of leaders, innovators, collaborators, experts, and trail blazers located over three different states. At Civitas, we work as a connected team to inspire, encourage, and support one another in an environment where we’re able to show up as ourselves and do our best work every day.

John Lambeth

Founder & CEO

John Lambeth

Founder & CEO

John Lambeth, Civitas’ Founder & CEO, specializes in developing and advocating for unique tourism and travel promotion funding strategies. He and his team deliver unequaled knowledge, depth, and experience globally to destinations and communities that seek sustainable funding solutions to fuel their futures. He is the leading national expert in tourism district creation. He also drafts statewide enabling legislation, builds support among tourism businesses and electeds, and provides non-profit assistance. He and his firm have been recognized as a national leader in developing and implementing revolutionary financing mechanisms for destinations, including those looking to build or upgrade their local sports facilities. Mr. Lambeth and his team are frequent speakers on advocacy and funding who have presented at conferences around the world, including those hosted by Destinations International, CalTravel, US Travel, ISHA, and Sports ETA. He is the former Clerk to the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court, the former Chair of the Board for Destinations International Foundation, a current member of the Board of the U.S. Travel Association, and a former Chair of the CalTravel Board of Directors.

Email:jlambeth@civitasadvisors.com

Carson Lambeth

Vice President of Business Development

Carson Lambeth

Vice President of Business Development

Ms. Lambeth’s career has included over 17 years of experience with project and relationship management, human resources and recruiting. Ms. Lambeth specializes in consensus building and successful program implementation. Carson has also been involved with many non-profit organizations in the Sacramento community, including St. Hope, March of Dimes, Breakthrough, and the Child Abuse Prevention Council. Carson earned a bachelor’s degree from UC Davis in Organizational Studies and a minor in Rhetoric and Communications.

Email:CLambeth@civitasadvisors.com

Tiffany Gallagher

Vice President of Operations

Tiffany Gallagher

Vice President of Operations

Throughout her career, Ms. Gallagher has shown strong commitment to the tourism and business communities. Her industry experience includes a board position on the New York State Hospitality and Tourism Board of Directors, Past President of the Greater Syracuse Hospitality and Tourism Association, serving on the Board of Directors of Destination Marketing Organizations, Strategic Planning Councils, and Business Improvement Districts. Ms. Gallagher works out of Upstate New York, where she leads, initiates, and manages projects nationwide.

Email:tgallagher@civitasadvisors.com

Gina Reed

Senior Project Manager

Gina Reed

Senior Project Manager

Mrs. Reed is Civitas’ Project Manager in the Greater Los Angeles area. Since 2014, Gina has been working with clients in all aspects of district formation, renewal, and modification. She has an extensive background in the hospitality industry in sales, marketing, and event planning. She graduated from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing, and is a founding member of the LAX Coastal Area Chamber Young Professional’s Organization.

Email:greed@civitasadvisors.com

Kelly Rankin

Project Manager & Team Engagement Director

Kelly Rankin

Project Manager & Team Engagement Director

Ms. Rankin is Civitas' Project Manager in Sacramento. Kelly joined the Civitas team in 2018. Prior to Civitas, Kelly attended California State University, Fresno where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Advertising. She started her career in the travel industry, then continued on in television advertising sales in New York City. Upon her return to California five years later, she joined the Civitas team with experience in operations, client relations, and media expertise.

Email:krankin@civitasadvisors.com

Emily Brown

Project Manager & Operations

Emily Brown

Project Manager & Operations

Prior to Civitas, Ms. Brown graduated from the University of California, Davis, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Sciences and began her career working in a lab as a Microbiologist. She enjoyed the project management aspect of her lab work which ultimately led to her joining the Civitas team in early 2022 as a Project Manager, where she utilizes the organizational and analytical skills she gained working as a scientist.

Email:ebrown@civitasadvisors.com

Jeremiah Toles

Project Coordinator

Jeremiah Toles

Project Coordinator

Mr. Toles comes with 15 years of devoted work in the hospitality industry as an Operations and Revenue Manager for some of the largest lodging properties in Syracuse, New York where he continues to reside. He is passionate about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Mr. Toles assisted to help pass the Dignity For All Students Act Law in New York and was recognized for his volunteer work with the Human Rights Award by the Syracuse Human Rights Commission. Mr. Toles' hospitality experience combined with his passion for DEI brings a unique perspective to further the innovation of tourism marketing and funding programming.

Email:jtoles@civitasadvisors.com

Maya Kitt

Account Manager & Legal Analyst

Maya Kitt

Account Manager & Legal Analyst

Ms. Kitt joined the Civitas team in 2022, shortly after graduating from UC Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in political science. Though she joins Civitas following professional experiences in the legal field and administrative work, Ms. Kitt comes from a family-owned small business background which she believes has truly allowed her work ethic to thrive within a team-driven environment like Civitas. As a Sacramento native, Ms. Kitt takes great pride in giving back to the city where Civitas’ story began.

Email:mkitt@civitasadvisors.com

Caity Sung

Project Coordinator

Caity Sung

Project Coordinator

Caity joined the Civitas team in 2024 as a Project Coordinator. She graduated from the University of The Pacific with a Bachelor’s degree in Health and Exercise Sport Science and a Master's degree in Business Analytics. With a professional background in management, administration and operations, Caity is passionate about converting goals for a better future into tangible projects that yield long-term benefits.

Email:csung@civitasadvisors.com

Madison Deschamps

Senior Legal Analyst

Madison Deschamps

Senior Legal Analyst

Ms. Deschamps is a recent graduate of the University of California, Davis, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science as well as a minor degree in Women’s Studies. Her coursework emphasized American Politics and Institutions, and she followed her academic experiences centered around policy and legislation with an internship at the California State Assembly. She joins Civitas following professional experiences in the legal field, administrative work, as well as membership in on-campus organizations that fostered her passion for community development.

Email:mdeschamps@civitasadvisors.com

Megan Kang

Admin & Operations Coordinator for East Coast Operations

Megan Kang

Admin & Operations Coordinator for East Coast Operations

Ms. Kang is a recent graduate of the University at Buffalo, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a minor in Sociology and Counseling. Megan is driven by a passion for promoting growth, diversity, and inclusivity. With a track record of impactful internships at nonprofits, she has cultivated a unique skill set focused on driving positive change. Now an integral part of the Civitas Advisors team, Megan channels her passion for creating a better world into actionable initiatives that make a lasting impact.

Email:mkang@civitasadvisors.com

Wendy Forwood

Paralegal

Wendy Forwood

Paralegal

Wendy joined the Civitas team in 2025 as a Paralegal and brings a strong foundation in compliance, regulation, and legal research. She is a third-year law student at Lincoln Law School of Sacramento and holds a degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of California, Davis. Now playing a vital role at Civitas, Wendy supports the creation and legal structuring of improvement districts across the U.S., combining her public service background with a deep commitment to making the law accessible for the communities it serves.

Email:wforwood@civitasadvisors.com

Rebekah Reynolds

Legal Coordinator

Rebekah Reynolds

Legal Coordinator

Ms. Reynolds joined the team in 2022 after graduating from UC Berkeley with a bachelor's degree in economics and psychology and a minor in global studies. She brings professional experience in the legal field and public affairs. During her time in college, she actively volunteered with organizations that made a deep impact on her campus. As a Bay Area native, Rebekah moved to Sacramento to find a firm that utilizes laws to strengthen its community. With this passion for helping others and diverse experiences, she is excited to contribute to Civitas' goals.

Email:rreynolds@civitasadvisors.com

Katie Thomas

Marketing & Communications Manager

Katie Thomas

Marketing & Communications Manager

Ms. Thomas joined the Civitas team in 2021 as the Marketing & Content Creation Coordinator. Katie comes to Civitas from Destination Gettysburg, in Gettysburg, PA, where she currently lives. During her four years with the Convention and Visitors Bureau, she discovered her passion for tourism and community development. Katie joins the team with a Bachelor's degree in Communications and experience in destination marketing, web, and content management. She is currently obtaining her Masters in Integrated Marketing Communications at West Virginia University.

Email:kthomas@civitasadvisors.com

Paul Lewis

Legal Assistant & Data Specialist

Paul Lewis

Legal Assistant & Data Specialist

Paul joined the team as a Legal Administrative Assistant in 2023. He is a graduate of Saint Mary’s College of California in the San Francisco Bay Area with a Bachelor’s degree in Politics, and interned for the San Francisco office of Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi after graduation. He gained extensive experience in Corporate Immigration law working as a Paralegal for a large firm providing immigration support to major technology companies, and moved to the Sacramento area in 2021.

Email:plewis@civitasadvisors.com

Haley Gross

Marketing Intern

Haley Gross

Marketing Intern

Haley joined the Civitas team in 2024 as the Marketing Intern. She is currently earning a bachelor's degree in journalism and mass communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her passion for storytelling, and the interplay between businesses and audiences drives her academic and career goals. With her fresh perspective and eagerness to learn, Haley is thrilled to embark on her professional growth journey and gain valuable experience at Civitas.

Email:hgross@civitasadvisors.com

Shreya Nene

Legal Administrative Assistant

Shreya Nene

Legal Administrative Assistant

Shreya joined the Civitas team in 2024 as a Legal Administrative Assistant. She holds degrees in Psychology and Economics from the University of California, Davis, with an interest in Behavioral Economics and law. Shreya's academic background includes research on the theory of mind and having held impressive leadership positions on campus. She is eager to channel her passion for advocacy and actionable change in her work at Civitas!

Email:snene@civitasadvisors.com

Meet Our Team

John Lambeth

Carson Lambeth

Tiffany Gallagher

Gina Reed

Kelly Rankin

Emily Brown

Jeremiah Toles

Maya Kitt

Caity Sung

Madison Deschamps

Megan Kang

Wendy Forwood

Rebekah Reynolds

Katie Thomas

Paul Lewis

Haley Gross

Shreya Nene

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